1st WS season complete

14 years ago

Newbie... Did 52 containers. about 10 with no germ...my bad dirt was to shallow. Only 10 had GREAT germination ..the rest was all fair to middling.

But I'm aiming to learn from my mistakes.

Last of the containers got dumped or planted today.

Annddd.... I brought some seeds from the 1/2 of sale a Bennys so next winter When the urge hits I am ready baby!

My biggest challenge is:

I Need to be ready for a plant sale May 15th 2010.

I just ran one and we raised 3300.00 for Children Hospital Boston. 12.300.00 total for my workplace.

It was about 660 plants. I raised 3/4th of them Connie M and Chri from the Tomato forum donated a bunch and I begged about 8 flats of stuff from local nurseries

I know I want more rare plants next yr. the Delphiniums,larkspur.

And ppl want to buy mint..for a reason that escapes me...but they do... and they want Bigger tomato plants.

So I am going to start the Veggies..Toms,peppers hot mild and sweet... mainly under lights. Will WS anyone else. I am going to assign herbs to ppl from work who volunteer.(I will do parsley).. anyone can do mint and basil dill ..

cilantro)

How do I get 3 flats each of lupines,delphiniums.columbines. stuff you can't get at Home Depot KMOTGG,Love Lies Bleeding, ect ect for the sale?

I have started some cuttings from my single delph and lupines columbines,Dicentira spectiables (the fancy bleeding heart) and clematis I am doing some layering on the lavender...this is all stuff I have trouble starting from seed.

What else can I do to be ready for next yrs winter sowing and plant sale?

Comments (10)

northforker
14 years ago
Without a greenhouse, it is hard to get "big enough annuals" to sell in zone 5 by 5/15 I'd think. But how about starting perennial seeds now (and all summer), put them in a holding bed in the fall, and then pot them up for sale in the spring? I think I have read that some folks do this. I am sure if it is for a cause many of us here would send you perennial seeds; I'd be happy to.

Nancy
ontheteam
Original Author
14 years ago
ooohhh....that's a good idea....

so i get to play w/ flowers AND seeds?!! Hmmmm....
It IS for a cause...

So any and all help suggestions are welcome. I put this sale together by the seat of my pants After Easter this April.I am VERY motivated to see what I can do with a little more time to plan.

No greenhouse.. just fluro lights and a shelter...similar to this but much smaller
http://www.greenhouses.com/instagrow-1220h.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Childrens Hospital/CMN
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token28001
14 years ago
Even in my zone, I wouldn't be able to get enough annuals to sell by that date either. You can erect a simple hoophouse though. That gave me 2' tall tomatoes and Yvonne's salvia around a foot tall. A couple petunias in there were blooming at Easter. None of the perennials were blooming because it was unheated.

I would start them in the fall and keep them over the winter if possible in a cold frame or pvc hoophouse.
floodthelast
14 years ago
If you haven't tried them yet I highly recommend true lavender and the lady lavender did well for me from seed. My WSown babies are about three inches tall now in z5. If you start growing mint in a container you can split it whenever you want some for a sale. My German chamomile is going to bloom any day now too.
ontheteam
Original Author
14 years ago
So I would direct sow this stuff? and potted it up for the winter or pot it up next spring when it sprouts?
ontheteam
Original Author
14 years ago
If I am supposed to sow stuff.. I would really appreciate any seeds you all are willing to part with.

I am open to suggestions as to what in your experience sells well at plant sales.,
I had about 8 in tall 'maters that sold for 5 bucks a cup. (think big red beer cup)
Herbs were 3 bucks
perennials were 4.
All other veggies were 4
I am looking to do 6 flats of everything I can sow/grow or divide. Of course I'd like to double baht the plant sale made this yr for next yr.
ontheteam
Original Author
14 years ago
http://www.gardenweb.com/members/exch/ontheteam

made a list for any one who wants to help. I am in zone 5 Southern MA.I can arrange pick up of plants if that's something you have will do SASE for seeds...and I can wrangle a one day shopping pass for Costco Avon for anyone kind enough to assist me.
dirtbert
14 years ago
Last year at a fundraiser (mostly bake sale but they let me bring tomato seedlings) I brought what I called "salsa plant packs!"
They contained:
2 tomato plants (any two different kinds)
1 sweet pepper plant
1 hot salsa pepper plant
1 pot of cilantro
and a handfull of onion sets in a cup.
I also included a simple recipe for making salsa.
I used disposible red cups for all the seedlings and had to fashion a box for them (that was the difficult part - there's got to be a good solution to that).
But they sold out in minutes! Sold them for about $15 each.
northforker
14 years ago
I'm not at all experienced with direct sowing perennials in the ground...I really think you would get better germination and success if you "spring sowed" them in containers (jugs/etc). Then plant them out in a holding bed (or pot up) to grow into a plant large enough to sell next spring.

It is taking so long to warm up in the northeast this year, you probably have time to get some jugs going without worrying about them frying.
ontheteam
Original Author
14 years ago
LOL nan they may DROWN before they fry this yr!

1st WS season complete

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1st WS season complete

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